Monthly Archives: July 2011

If Hatch, Lee, Chaffetz, Bishop reject late debt deal, time to dump them

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Doug Gibson

It may have been very late and after a lot of dysfunction, but Congress and the president have reached a deal on the debt limit. Republicans have won 90-plus percent of the battle. No need to trust me on that; … Read More

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Congress should split the difference between Boehner, Reid debt plans

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Doug Gibson

I was listening to Arthur Laffer on Fox News and, whether you agree with his Reagan-era curve he made perfect sense on how to resolve the debt limit imbroglio. Pass both the Boehner plan and the Reid plan and then … Read More

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Ronald McDonald throws Michelle Obama an apple core

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Doug Gibson

Fascist-minded healthy food advocates scored a small, absurd victory when McDonald’s announced that it will … drum roll … throw a few apple slices into its Happy Meals. To squeeze room for the fruits, there will be about 50 percent fewer french fries for … Read More

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To save Medicare, Social Security, admit they are failures

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Doug Gibson

If you want to save entitlements in the long-term, we have to stop calling them entitlements. We have to admit that Medicare and Social Security are failures — fiscal failures. Once our leaders can admit these programs are now welfare … Read More

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Rags, rags, rags, we need rags! the Deseret News pleaded to early Saints

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Doug Gibson

To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here: Few accounts of the Mormon Church in 1850s Utah tell us about “rag missions” but they were an important calling, and no less than Brigham Young and Heber … Read More

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100 years ago, Utah, Mormon Church sold lots of magazines for publishers

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) I just finished reading a Rolling Stones piece on the Kingston polygamy family. It’s a breathless piece. The subject is described as “America’s most twisted crime family.” (You … Read More

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How much of the GDP will be taxes is the real budget debate

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Doug Gibson

I’m listening to Congress debate Cut, Cap and Balance on C-Span web and yes, it’s self-inflicted torture. Each side claims solidarity with the American people, most of whom curl their lips in distaste when Congress is mentioned. We have a … Read More

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Fox News anchor: ‘Romney obviously not a Christian’

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Doug Gibson

Blogger Joanna Brooks of Religion Dispatches has noted the latest bit of Mormon-bashing from Fox News (click) that occurred Sunday morning when weekend anchor Ainsley Earhardt blurted out that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney “obviously was not a Christian.” The … Read More

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Why Republicans are not budging on debt ceiling

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Doug Gibson

There’s a valuable column from MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough today in the Politico (read) Within its critique of hyperbolic media criticism of congressional Republicans, it gets to the heart of why Republicans in Congress are determined to have a showdown with … Read More

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What would you ask LDS Newsroom if you had the chance?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Doug Gibson

To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here: A lot of people criticize the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for not being media-friendly. Any independent journalist in Utah likely has experienced that frustration. … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments